Pop's Headscratchers

[Cane]

I was scrolling through NBA.com's stuff, here's what Michael Kelly wrote about Coach Pop in his "Good move/Bad move" part of his brief summary of the game in case anyone gives a damn:

GOOD MOVE: Spurs coach Gregg Popovich called quick timeouts at the beginning of the game and early in the second half to stem Denver's momentum both times and keep San Antonio close.

http://www.nba.com/games/20101216/SA...#nbaGIboxscore

My only real beef with Pop tonight was suddenly subbing Dice in for Duncan late in the game...maybe it was to give Duncan some rest and/or maybe Pop likes McDyess' mobility/defense/fouls more. Nene and Melo were huge pains for the Spurs thats for sure though...

Last night I thought the Spurs played a little too small and should've had RJ in there for Hill more in the 4th but both times Coach Pop and the Spurs have pulled out W's without having to really drain anybody so its all good I suppose.

[TJastal]

Hey, ass...

Leave my Mom outta this & I'll leave THIS* out of your Mom.....

Ohhhhhh, snap....Hey, TJastal, when I need to hear your lip, I'll take my outta yo mouff.....


* -imagine the opposite of your small, ass hungry, penis...

[E-RockWill]

Very well.

Carry on.....

[angelbelow]

I was stunned that they didn't call a timeout to advance the ball.. however, Ginobili redeeming himself on both ends of the court was not a surprise. All in all, I agree with most of your head scratchers. I think JR's big dunk might have made things worse - but I wasn't entirely sure why they went with Udoka to try and get a stop at the end of the quarter.

[urunobili]

the pass's direction and angle was ok. It was just too late. If you look at the play you'll see Manu bumping JR to gain some space though McDysee doesn't throw the ball at him then. Instead he waits and when he does throw it it's too late. That generated the turnover.

[silverblk mystix]

I am scratching my head as to why this thread was created after THIS game.

I understand that sometimes Pop does some questionable decisions and I am pretty upset at some playing time and lack of playing time for some players over others....

but in THIS game?

I think Pop was a big reason why the spurs did NOT get blown out in the first half and I also thought this was one of Pop's better coaching jobs of the season.

I couldn't even hate on Pop for Tiago NOT playing...because I think he was injured--and Bonner didn't seem to hurt the team as much.

Pop couldn't have done much better than he did-IMO.

[YoMamaIsCallin]

I was wondering about the Dice subs ution myself considering how Duncan had been beasting.

I thought that myself then dice played great D on Nene and they got a stop. Then I thought "Smart Pop."

[Fabbs]

Does the ball bounce off GNobs rhand all due to Dyse-GNob or did JR ard tap the ball from behind?

Manus head whiplashes.

[YoMamaIsCallin]

Does the ball bounce off GNobs rhand all due to Dyse-GNob or did JR ard tap the ball from behind?

Manus head whiplashes.

JR tapped the ball. Manu reacted and tried to draw a foul.

[nkdlunch]

To end the third and begin the fourth, Pop went without TD, TP or Manu. At the time, I thought he was crazy.

not crazy at all. it was a back 2 back game and he was resting his stars for the end.

[duncan228]

Popovich spent much of the first quarter of Thursday’s game trying to find a compe ive mix of players, and his search included motivational messages to several players, including point guard Tony Parker.

Popovich replaced Parker with little-used backup Chris Quinn just long enough to remind him to be aggressive.

“There were two or three guys who needed to step it up, compe iveness-wise and physicality-wise,” Popovich said. “As we got through the game, they did, so I was happy with that.”

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursna...r-this-season/

[spurtech09]

Spurs won the game..... Move on

[timvp]

And finally, Pop not calling a timeout with McDyess inbounding and the Spurs up by one with seven seconds to go was another headscratcher. First of all, McDyess is a bad passer. Secondly, the easiest way to lose in that situation is to turn it over under the opponent's basket. Calling a timeout there to get a better passer and get it at halfcourt should have been a no-brainer.

Faced with a similar situation tonight with the Spurs up and Duncan inbounding under the Mavs basket, Pop waited a second and then called timeout. So much for it not being on Pop to call the timeout in that scenario . . .

[mazerrackham]

so, perhaps lesson learned and the Spurs will not make this mistake again...